The Monterey County Weekly’s Online Community Calendar lists a free Digital Game Design Workshop in Salinas, California on Wednesday, June 3, 2026 with two following sessions at Artists INK Studio.
Information about this workshop follows on the Monterey County Weekly’s online community calendar below:
https://www.montereycountynow.com/events/#/details/digital-game-design/19017141/2026-06-03T17
This looks like a great STEAM event!
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games
This year’s class of 2026 peer speakers at the University of Chicago have bright beginnings with careers beginning in the following fields:
-gourmet snack food entrepreneur in addition to becoming a national soccer champion while at UChicago
-consultant at Boston Consulting Group in Chicago
-consultant at Econic Partners
For more details on these UChicago graduates and their work at the University, refer to the UChicago news article below:
Reposted by Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games
Savory and Stylish Salmon Criollo at Villa Azteca in Salinas, California by Ruth Paget
For my daughter Florence Paget’s birthday, my husband Laurent and I offered her a celebratory meal at Villa Azteca in downtown Salinas, California.
We began our meal with guacamole salad – mashed avocado with red bell pepper squares and chopped cilantro mixed in. I like the black, volcanic stone dishes that the guacamole comes in. As we ate the guacamole, I admired the milagro (miracle) cross collection hung on the wall by the entryway.
Florence and Laurent ordered steaks while I ordered a heart-healthy salmon dinner.
The dish I ordered was called salmon criollo. This was broiled salmon that was served on a bed of stewed black beans with cubes of baked butternut squash strewn around it. Chipotle crema came with the salmon and two warmed soft corn tortillas.
A pickled radish slice and sliced jalapeño sat on top of the broiled salmon with its ashed crust of broiled skin. (Maybe a kitchen blow torch was used to make the skin this way.)
I placed slices of salmon in one tortilla along with the black beans, jalapeño, and butternut squash along with some chipotle cream. I twisted the end over once so my salmon taco would not leak out the end.
I just loved the flavor trio provided by the squash, beans, and maize (corn) that is indigenous to the American Southwest and Mexico. The salmon indigenous to the Pacific Northwest of the US is very good, too. The salmon and the beans, squash, and maize together provide protein and other important nutrients like selenium for thyroid health, Vitamin C, and antioxidants that remove cancer causing free radicals.
I used the second tortilla to do practically the same combination but used the pickled radish slice in this taco. The pungent radish made the savory ingredients seem fresh rather than cooked and gave it the plus of providing a fermented food to the taco.
I ate the remaining black beans, butternut squash, and salmon with equal gusto with the remaining chipotle cream.
The salmon criollo was delicious and might appeal to diners trying to maintain weight without sacrificing flavor.
Note: There is a garage nearby at the Steinbeck Center and street parking as available.
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games
The Kimpton Mirador Hotel in Pacific, Grove, California is now open!
This luxury destination is located in the center of a historic downtown with restaurants like The Spotted Duck French Restaurant located in the hotel, bakeries like longstanding Pavel’s, and the curated Grove Market offering many delectable goodies.
The Museum of Natural History behind the hotel invites browsing with ocean views. A nearby park and gazebo provide space for relaxed walks and poetry writing and journaling. There are many flowers, trees, and hedges to identify for garden strolling. (Safe, well-maintained parks should be a priority for all cities. Some parks even provide picnic tables which diners and writers alike can use.) The Kimpton has a courtyard as well for relaxing in the sun.
Asilomar Beach which runs along the rocky coastline that makes one think of Japan is three blocks downhill. Brown pelicans, cormorants, seagulls, and great white egrets can all be seen flying here often in v-formation as they dive for fish as a group. Photographers can take beautiful sunset photos from all vantage points along Asilomar Beach.
Pacific Grove is called Butterfly Town due the yearly migration of monarch butterflies that come to the town. A monarch butterfly sanctuary and museum is located near the hotel .
Sometimes you can see seals sunning themselves on the rocks along Asilomar Beach to make walks true eco-tourism.
The nearby public library is a historic Carnegie library. The town’s Chautauqua Hall hosts a quilt show every year.
The Kimpton Mirador website for more information follows:
https://www.miradorhotelpacificgrove.com/
The Kimpton Mirador is part of the IHG Group and offers reward points for its loyalty program.
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games
I was looking through my old articles in the Monterey County Weekly online archives from when I was a freelance writer for the paper and found a story I did on the Ohlone Storytelling Festival that usually takes place in May.
I looked up the festival for 2026, which took place on May 23rd.
For people interested in attending this event in May 2027, I have placed a link to the article I wrote below for information:
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games
The First Friday Art Fair in Salinas, California featuring gallery walks, food, and music will take place on Friday, June 5, 2026 downtown. There is street parking, a parking garage, and some lots.
Wear your tech med as you stroll to shape your legs and lungs into shape.
There are two farmers’ markets happening on Friday as well beginning in the afternoon and ending at 9 pm, if you want to make First Friday into a daylong outing.
Salinas Valley Health Farmers’ Market
11:30 am to 4 pm
Outdoor Market at the Rodeo in Salinas (Salinas Sports Complex)
4 pm to 9 pm
This market features produce as well as merchandise with music and entertainment.
By Ruth Paget, author Eating Soup with Chopsticks and Marrying France and developer of the Novgorod and Bento War Games